Friday, December 21, 2012

Here it is, the last day of our Merriment Chain. I again want to thank Misi and Robyn for coming up with this wonderful idea! This chain has made me grateful for so many things. First of all it was the perfect kick in my patootie to get my decorating done, I had to have at least one thing done each day to post. Second of all it made me feel a bigger part of this blogging community. I am a single woman that has no children, and really no friends to speak of. I have always been overweight and was never one that exuding self confidence so sitting home was what I do best. Blogging has been a great way to feel a part of something, part of a group of some very special people. I kinda like that feeling. I have loved getting to know you all better by coming into your houses and seeing what you had shared of your decor. I have loved the stories, the memories and the laughs. I also loved that when the nation was grieving a week ago I had people to grieve and cry with. I want to thank you all for opening your homes, your families and especially your hearts to me. I have enjoyed you all so much and will continue to visit you often, I would also love to thank each of you that has come to my blog and left the heartfelt comments.
Today I am sharing my ladder with you. It is a pretty new piece and I am loving decorating it in different ways.

Remember in these last few days before Christmas it isn't how many cookies you have bakes, it isn't how many decorations you have up, it isn't how many gifts there are under your tree it is about the people that you share it with. Please do not get stressed, my prayer for you is PEACE!

Today did not start out in a very good way. We got a lot of snow last night...well 7 inches and it was still snowing when I got up. I had to go to work and my landlord had not plowed us yet. So I was outside shoveling my way out so I could get to work. It was a pretty slow day because it continued to snow but even worse than that was the wind. it was blowing so hard that you couldn't even see down the block. It is finally settling down now but oh my is it cold! I am happy that we are having a white Christmas but just praying for all of those traveling.

Well this is the second to last post on the Merriment Chain, how fun it has been for me! I thought I would share my SIL's Willow Tree nativity. I love it and someday would like one of my own. I also like the trees she has around it.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

It is all coming to an end...this has been one of the most special things I have done since I started blogging. I have enjoyed sharing my things but even more than that I have enjoyed getting to know some of my fellow bloggers even better by visiting them daily! You are all a great group of ladies! I fell so blessed to be able to share this joyous season with you all!

So I am sharing with you today the top of my coffee table in front of my couch, the smell is wonderful and the candles have a nice relaxing glow.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Today I am off to Tomahawk WI to watch my nephew Logan in a swim meet. I am going with my mom and dad and we are going to stop and see my godparents and then continue North. All of the kids will be there, my oldest nephew Matthew, my only and dearest niece Michelle and then of course Logan. It will be a great time with family.

As you all know I am a new "prim" decorator. I would say that I probably started in June of this year. When it came time to put up my tree I got out my ornaments and realized that although they all had many memories to them and most were gifts they were not prim. I really wanted my ornaments on my tree but I also loved the look of a prim tree also. Well my sister bought me this tree and I got to fill it with the ornaments I got through swaps and for gifts. It is my little prim tree and I love it! I love that I now have another tree full of ornaments that were gifts from my new prim friends and full of memories.

Hello fellow bloggers, can you believe we have done 21 days of merriment? I sure can't. It has been so much fun and I must again thank Misi and Robyn again for such an excellent idea!

Today I am sharing my very small but so special collection of Boyd's figurines I have for Christmas.

Here is the back story, it is kinda long so you don't have to follow along if you don't want. I was born with a twin brother named Brad, when we were almost 6 years old my twin died of leukemia. It was in June that he died. The Christmas after that was a pretty hard one for all of us. I remember getting a teddy bear from my Godmother that year and that teddy meant the world to me, even though I was 6 years old I guess I needed something special to love. Through the years my godmother has always been very special to me. I would go and stay at her house part of every summer and stuff like that. This year has been a pretty hard year for my godmother. This summer she had to put my godfather in a nursing home because of Alzheimer's. She is so devoted to him, she is there from 6:30 am until 6:30 pm every day. She gave me this collection of Boyd's because she isn't home enough now to enjoy them and she knows how much I loved them so just like so many years ago when I was sad and alone with no friends after my twin died she again gave me the gift of teddies to love this year when I was also sad and alone, I will treasure them always.
Have a great day, enjoy the time you have with your loved ones, each moment make a memory!

Sunday, December 16, 2012

We always had stockings while I was growing up but they were never the kind that you could put things into. They were pieces of felt that my mom made each of us and then put our name in glitter but never have I had a stocking where Santa could put little things into. I guess that just wasn't a tradition in our family. Well after 52 years I decided to get a stocking that Santa could put something into when he came to visit my house...my stocking (a real one) is hung! Do you think St. Nick will fill it? BELIEVE!

twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

It was so sad when I got home from work today and turned on the news. It really made me stop and imagine how the poor families must feel. It is really something to pray about. may God comfort them and wrap them in His loving arms. It also made me so glad that I made the trip to the cities to see my nephew's concert. Yes it was a late night and yes I was tired all day at work but it meant so much to him and really it takes so little to make a kid's day special. I am going to work hard at making all of the kids in my life enjoy special moments.

My merriment today was on my doorstep when I came home from work. My dear friend sweet Steph from Front Porch Prims sent me a package. Now the merriment wasn't so much in what was inside the package which I loved make no mistake. But the merriment was in the fact that someone cared enough to send me something that they made from their heart. It warms my heart to know that someone cares enough about me to do that. So Steph, thank you so much for caring and also for sharing.

Steph sent me this cute little basket that I added some greens and berries to and also this cute cute cute...did I say cute little tree. I don't know how she made it but it is.....well....CUTE! I love it! I also got 4 teabag ornaments that she made...I put them right on my tree so sorry no picture. Thanks again Sweet Steph!

The merriment on this day was a trip to the cities to watch my nephew at his "winter" concert. He was so excited that we were all there to see him. It was a great way to spend the night. Good job Ivan!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

All of our snow is melting... so sad. Tomorrow night we were suppose to get snow but now they are saying it is too warm so it will probably be freezing rain, I don't like that because it is so dangerous then. We will see, maybe we will get lucky and it will be colder and it will be snow. Well now onto the Merriment~~

This is the crock my mom gave me for my birthday in August and when I got it I was so excited to be able to fill it for fall and for winter. Here she is all full of greens, redwood branches and pinecones. I think it looks pretty good at least for the first time, smells good too.

Off to some more merriment tonight. Going to see my nephew sing in his "winter" concert. Should be fun.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Today was a long day. After being at the clinic with my sister she felt pretty good after the injection so we went shopping it was fun but I am tired. We left here at 7:30 this morning and got home at 3:30. Both of us got all our shopping done so that is good. It was really warm here today, in the 40's so almost all of our snow is gone...sad. Hopefully we will get a little more.

Here are two more things that my dad made me when he was doing some woodworking. they always have a special place every winter. I added the mittens to the sled.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Ok now with this post I am all caught up! Yeah! Today my merriment is thanks to Michelle from Simple Pleasures. Michelle and I were swap partners in Amy's (Bumble Bee Lane) gingerbread swap. There is nothing better than coming home from work and finding a package waiting for you...oh wait there is something better, opening it up and seeing all of the goodies! Michelle really spoiled me with so many things that I had to take two pictures.

I got some tags that are really cute and I will probably use in my scrapping. I got a box of cute snowman coasters, a snow girl ornie and a snowman on skates ornie, a gingerbread head ornie, two wooden ornies, a tree and another snowman and hand stitch towel. Love all the snowmen and things to put on my tree.

Then I got 2 burlap stockings, a ginger mat that I am not going to cover up, a Christmas sheep pillow and a snowman pillow. I love everything Michelle, thank you so much!
Also thank you to Amy for having these swaps! For a person like me that is just starting in a new style of decorating it is a neat way to get such precious things! It is also a great way to meet new blogging people and hopefully form new friendships.
Tomorrow I am off with my sister to get her first injection and learn all there is to know about her injections. Then hopefully we will have a break for awhile. She is a trooper though and is handling it all quite well. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. Be blessed.